Tag: NIFA

Why we report

sternweis

John Lawrence’s message from Oct. 1, 2018

Happy federal fiscal new year! Today we begin our work for FY2019, while we also get ready to report on FY2018 and start planning for FY2020. In the meantime, USDA NIFA approved our federal FY2017 ISU Combined Research and Extension Annual Report of Accomplishments and Results. We report on USDA’s six priority areas incorporated into our seven broad, interdisciplinary programs. Did you know?

  • We report on outputs, outcomes and impacts for community and economic development, expanding human potential, food security, health and well-being, natural resources and environmental stewardship, sustainable and renewable energy, and K-12 youth development.
  • Our program units annually plan for the metrics they’ll report on. However, if an issue emerges that we need to address, such as a natural disaster or an economic crisis, we can reallocate staff time and divert resources accordingly.
  • In late November, USDA NIFA will open FY2018 reporting, and we’ll start crunching numbers and writing impact narratives to meet a Feb. 1 internal deadline. At Iowa State, extension is closely integrated with research, so ISU Extension and Outreach and the Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station submit one joint report.
  • Together we report on all research and extension work accomplished through federal funds. By late March, the CALS dean, representing the Experiment Station, and I will sign off on the report, which we’ll submit to USDA NIFA by April 1. Sometime next June, USDA will approve our report.

We report so we can share the value and impact of ISU Extension and Outreach – whether we’re reporting to USDA, the university, the Board of Regents, state government, our partners and stakeholders, or directly to Iowans. We strive to be intentional and consistent. Every data point you provide is used in at least one report and often several, as well as staff success stories, research journal articles and grant applications. Reporting helps us tell our story to make sure our stakeholders, partners, funders and all Iowans will continue to support our work for a strong Iowa. Thank you for all you do.

More notes

  • Please join me in congratulating Lesia Oesterreich, adjunct assistant professor and family life extension specialist, who will receive the 2018 Excellence in Extension Award from USDA NIFA, Cooperative Extension, and the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities. The award is given annually to one Cooperative Extension professional in the nation who excels at programming, provides visionary leadership and makes a positive impact on constituents served.
  • We’re looking for Rising Star interns for summer 2019. This cooperative program involves ISU Extension and Outreach, County Extension Districts, and the colleges of Design, Agriculture and Life Sciences, Human Sciences, and Liberal Arts and Sciences. If you know any Iowa State students who would be a good fit for the program, direct them to the Rising Star Internship website for more information and to apply.
  • Interim Vice President and Chief Information Officer Kristen Constant shares this message: FEMA will conduct its first test of a national wireless emergency alert system Oct. 3 at 1:18 p.m. The alert, with the headline “Presidential Alert,” is scheduled to pop up on every cell phone in the nation (similar to AMBER alerts). Cell towers are scheduled to broadcast for 30 minutes and cell phones may receive these texts over that entire time (and possibly beyond). This test is not associated with the university, nor is it associated with our “ISU Alert” service. No action will be required when cell phone owners receive the test message. ITS will monitor effects on our local systems.
  • The study committee I wrote about in the Sept. 4 update met for the first time Saturday, Sept. 29. This is the first of many meetings the committee will have over the coming year as it studies how ISU Extension and Outreach is organized in the counties and the county-to-campus connection. The committee soon will have a webpage for sharing meeting summaries and other information. I’ll share the link when it’s available.

Members of the committee are:

  • Jamie David (Taylor County Council) jamie.david1421@gmail.com
  • Lori Donahoe (Johnson County Council) ldonahoe11@hotmail.com
  • Paul Gieselman (Louisa County Council) herr_giesel@louisacomm.net
  • Molly Hewitt (Woodbury County Director) hewittm@iastate.edu
  • Katharinna Bain (Keokuk County Director) kbain@iastate.edu
  • Cheryl Heronemus (Region 1 Director) hero@iastate.edu
  • Larry Tranel (Field Specialist, NE Iowa) tranel@iastate.edu
  • Terry Maloy (IECA Executive Director) maloy@iastate.edu
  • Bob Dodds (Assistant VP for County Services) redodds@iastate.edu
  • John Lawrence (VP for Extension and Outreach) jdlaw@iastate.edu

— John D. Lawrence
Iowa State University Vice President for Extension and Outreach

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If not research, then what?

sternweis

John Lawrence’s message from Feb. 12, 2018

ISU Extension and Outreach engages all Iowans in research, education, and extension experiences to address real-life challenges and prepare for a thriving future. That’s how we advance our land-grant mission. We are committed to helping Iowans build their capacity to better their lives and make sound decisions. If our work is not based on research and evidence, then what is it based on? Rumor? Politics? Whichever way the wind blows? Let’s hope not. Our integrity is in our research. That is why we work together with the Iowa Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station and other researchers to plan, discover and deliver science-based knowledge for the benefit of Iowans. Did you know?

  • The Experiment Station was founded at Iowa State in 1888, and soon began conducting research, advancing science and addressing the needs of Iowans.
  • The Experiment Station isn’t a physical place. It’s not a building and it’s not a farm. It is a research program involving hundreds of people and partners, along with extension connections reaching Iowans in every county.
  • Our combined plan of work addresses community and economic development, expanding human potential, food security, health and well-being, natural resources and environmental stewardship, sustainable and renewable energy, and youth development.

The leadership team has been compiling the data for our Combined Research and Extension Annual Report of Accomplishments and Results, also known as the federal report. We will be submitting it to USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture in a few weeks. This is another way we use the information you report to us. We’re sharing the value and impact of ISU Extension and Outreach with our federal partners, funders and decision makers.

A few more notes

  • Make sure to review the February program update from the leadership team.
  • Register now for annual conference. The March 26 event includes acts of service and the annual awards ceremony and reception. Come to learn, network with a purpose and celebrate.
  • I want to give a shout out to the ISU Extension and Outreach county offices that will host the Farmers Market Nutrition Program training for farmers so they can become certified to accept Farmers Market Nutrition Program checks. In 2017, WIC recipients in Iowa redeemed $383,000 and seniors redeemed $477,000 in these checks. These funds are spent only at farmers markets and with local farmers for locally grown fruits and vegetables. Without this program, many of these shoppers likely would not have gone to the farmers market or purchased local fresh produce. In addition, given this opportunity to buy local, they may have spent more on fruits and vegetables than the combined $860,000 from the program. 2018 marks the first time our county offices will offer training for this program that helps local farmers and farmers markets, as well as the young families and seniors who participate.

— John D. Lawrence
Iowa State University Interim Vice President for Extension and Outreach

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